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TRP works expedited to meet deadline, says VS

V.S. Achuthanandan says aim of the government is to provide houses for all.

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Sunday said works under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) were being expedited to meet the March 31 deadline for commissioning the projects.

Inaugurating the 168 apartments built for the tsunami-hit families at Moothakara in the city, Mr. Achuthanandan said the overall development of coastal areas was being achieved through the TRP. “The inauguration of the apartments coincides with the fifth anniversary of the tsunami in December 2004.”

“The TRP housing scheme includes constructing 11,000 houses in the State. In Kollam district alone, 6,258 houses are coming up. Of this, 3,841 have been completed with the cooperation of voluntary organisations. Construction of the remaining houses is in different phases.”

Mr. Achuthanandan said a sub-committee comprising eight Ministers was reviewing the progress of the TRP projects on a weekly basis.

In order to overcome the acute shortage of drinking water in coastal areas, 115 water supply schemes were being implemented through the TRP, he said.

A Rs.74-crore scheme, “Arogyatheeram”, was being implemented to improve the facilities at the public health centres in coastal areas.

The other projects implemented under the TRP include an electrification programme at a cost of Rs.73 crore; coastal protection programme at Rs.170 crore; fishing harbour modernisation programme at Rs.150 crore; and livelihood programmes at a cost of Rs.80 crore.

He said over one lakh families in the coastal areas had been covered through a health insurance programme.

Mr. Achuthanandan said providing houses with water and power connections for all the homeless was the aim of the government.